Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-10-21

lance of the Personal Liberty, and liquor
dealers parties, both interested in the same
purpose increases the indirect though
actual vote to nearly three hundred thous-
and, If the claims made are well founded.
1t is true that the majority of the votes
will come from the democratic party but
they are cast for the destruction OF the
American Sunday. Since every vote thus
cast will be of material advantage to the
democratic party, that party is in every
possible way forwarding the schemes of
the Sunday revolutionists.
The founders and members of the Per-
sonal Liberty party are Germans. Ger
mans have for the most part voted with
the republican party; but the stand which
it has taken on the great subject OF tenn
perance has caused division of the Ger
man vote, portion separating and form
ing the Personal Liberty party. Upon this
point we quote the Rev. DR.. Atterbury
who said: "These German societies GER
tainly do not represent all the Germans,
for when few years ago meeting was
held in support OF Sunday saloon-open.
ing measure proposed by Senator Green
ridge, another class of Germans held a
great meeting in Williamsburg and pro-
tested against it," thus showing that the
German population is divided upon the
question. A very careful analysis made by
that gentleman shows that tor the most
part the Germans who have lived
here long enough to become at
tached to our institutions and
all native born Germans are decidedly
opposed to this political movement. Add
ed to the German element of membership
are those foreigners of tastes and habits
which a national contact in their own
countries has rendered akin to those of
the Germans. These classes are really
more dangerous than the generally
well educated Germans and are the uneasy
and fretting spirits which terment and dis
turb the whole party.
This movement has been made for
definite object and that, one which the
people of this country cannot afford to
to allow TO be accomplished. 1t is
blow struck at the very foundation of our
social and political construction. 1t is a
thrust that must be parried, not by political
party work alone but by the we'll directed
and vigorous resistance OF every true
American citizen. The Importance of
nipping the party in the bud is realized
by none more forcibly than by the Ameri-
can clergy who see the morals of the
country at stake. They are already
alive and awake. At New York City over
one hundred clergymen assembled to con-
slider the matter. All were of the opinion
that there was no time to be lost in adopt
ing measures to defeat the movement.
Catholic and protestant were in per-
feet accord The sentiment of the
meeting can be shown in no better way
than by quoting one Or two Of the speak
ers present. Said DR.. John Hall: "We
have to allow tor the habits and senti-
ments under which our German friends
have grown up; but on the other hand,
and l speak with confidence as being my
self an adopted citizen, we are as AmerI-
can citizens bound to protect those things
which, under God, must be held to contrl-
butte in such large degree to the peace
and welfare, the stability and the prosper
ity of these United States" DR.. Lyman
Abbott struck down to the very roots of the
growing controversy between American
and imported notions of government when
he said that our government "was IN Its
birth Christian nation and 1t is very clear
that it must be maintained as Christian
nation. Authority must be maintained
somewhere in nation. 1t Is very
clear that the liberty, progress, pros
perity and whole future of this nation lie
in the emphatic maintenance and large
recognition of Christianity as part of the
institutionalism OF the land, and certainly
the Sabbath is the very institutional fact
above all other institutional facts of the
Christian religion"
The action of these clergymen is in it
self most important. 1t is the beginning
of great American uprising against the
enemies of this Country who. having
gained footing. attack it through its insti-
buttons from within. The declarations OF
the several State republican conventions
in favor of restricted immigration and the
necessity of assimilating the foreign ele-
ments already here, were none too soon.
The attacks upon our social and political
institutions have, though frustrated, been
significant of the true bent of certain ele-
ments of foreign population but this
last attack, that upon the American
Sunday, has been the signal
for the defense of our institutions
to be undertaken by all, irrespective of
politics or church creeds. The fact that
these hostile organizations are confined at
present to two States does not lessen the
responsibility of citizens of sister States.
and the work begun by the New York
clerymen will be joined in by all who re-